a quick fix

In July I posted some pictures from our beach house and have since received several questions about the burlap lampshades on the mantle. Its kind of a funny story how they came to be and how exactly they were made...

One night in June, I was at the beach with some friends sitting around chatting and drinking wine in the living room, trying not to look at my mantle. The mantle display had been driving me crazy for months, but I was at a total loss of what to do with it. A few glasses of wine and some helpful friends can convince you that 10:00 at night is definitely a good time to tackle such a project. We pinned a vintage American flag I had picked up at the flea market right over the picture that had been there before (I had big plans to get it framed, but when you start a project at such an hour, you make due with what is available) and started fooling around with what else was there and what we had. The old lampshades were simply not cutting it for me, so with burlap always on hand, we decided to give our own lampshades a go. I thought, "We should definitely take pictures, because everyone is going to want to see how to make these." A few glasses of wine can make your ideas seem a bit more brilliant than they appear the next day. I actually love the way they turned out, but kind of figured it wasn't much of a tutorial worth sharing... However, with several requests about them, I figured I might as well pass along the complexities of this amazing project. (Remember, these pictures were taken late one summer night while drinking wine, so don't judge...).

So, here is a little project for all of you who don't know how to sew, but are more than capable with scissors and a glue gun...

Step 1: Rip off old lamp shade, so you are left with only the frame.

Step 2: Cut 4 identical pieces the shape of the frame, only slightly bigger.

Step 3: Hot glue the pieces to the frame and to each other.

And there you have your very own, custom made burlap lamp shade!

So, there you have it. If you are feeling bored with an old lamp shade or feel like stopping in to Goodwill and picking up one just for the frame, you can give a room a new look with this little simple quick fix of a project. I have to say, it made me instantly happier!

shades of blue

As I have been unpacking, I have noticed all the lovely shades of blue scattered about. Some more turquoise than others, but all quite lovely. Like my new typewriter I just received from my daughter as a birthday present...

and these bingo cards I picked up at an antique store...

or this old record case...

a spool of yarn in my craft room...

and my granddaughter picked out this lovely shade for her mom (perhaps I am rubbing off on that little one...)...

a dish of blue candies...

and, of course, my new bike - a sort of early birthday present I got this summer...

Just messing about, getting my house back in order and enjoying the little details that make me smile. Like this calendar I made. Just perfect to hang around when you don't have a calendar...

And, just for fun, here is a little peek into our new bathroom...

Hope to be sharing more from my kitchen now that things are all put in their places (mostly)!

a volleyball mom?

Yup, I guess that's what I am. My daughter Emily officially made the freshman volleyball team at Xavier last week and, I have to admit, I was beyond excited. I have really come to love this sport over the past few years and I think it will be thrilling to watch at the high school level. I decided to show Emily that I was just as excited as she was (maybe even a little more...) with a few tokens of congratulations...

I even picked out a lovely Xavier sweatshirt for Edward (that is his name, right?). Emily just rolled her eyes at me and acted like I was a big dork. I think deep down she loves it and will remember it and appreciate it all the more when she has kids of her own. Right?! That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

As a side note, I have taken to hiding the above cardboard cutout from Twilight in Emily's closet and scaring her and her friends. I know, I am hilarious, right? Tell me you wouldn't scream if you walked around the corner and saw that guy staring at you.

So, back to volleyball... every week two girls are chosen as spirit leaders to make something for each girl on the team, as a sort of way to promote spirit and team bonding (or something like that...). So, here is where the project addict in me comes out... I am already trying to come up with something for Emily to make for this. Any suggestions? Come on, I really need some good ideas here!

It has been so much fun watching Emily grow as a player and I am really looking forward to this coming season. So, yes, a volleyball mom am I.

Friday Madness

Today's Friday Madness is all about jewelry!

Have you been coveting that cuff or longing for that locket? Enjoy 20% off your entire jewelry purchase - today only! We buy from over 10 unique, LOCAL jewelry designers as well as artists from all over the country!

We know you will find that perfect piece you have been looking for here at The Willows!

Discount is not available in our online store- please call us if you wish to have something shipped!

Serenity Prayer Bracelet

Emily Austin Jewelry

Sugarbean - an amazing new local company!

Jewel Ya

Initial Necklaces - Jewelry by Jackie B

unpacking

We have finally started moving back into our kitchen. I am so anxious to have our lives back to normal (relatively speaking, of course). To get into unpacking mode, I decided I needed an appropriate "unpacking outfit." Do you ever do this? Like when you are gardening how you almost seem to feel more like gardening if you put on some breezy clothes and your big straw hat. So, I put on my ripped jean shorts and my vintage gas station shirt that I picked up at the flea market. Oh, and my pearls. Its always good to feel a little lovely when you're sweating through dusty boxes...

We hit a few bumps along the way, but the finish is in sight. And I have to say a huge thank you to Jody of Sunstate Remodeling and Painting (480-510-4833), who swooped in and saved the day for us. If you need someone, he is your man. Lots of unpacking ahead, but indeed a happy day...

Isn't it funny how if you take pictures from just the right angles things can look put together and nice? When this is really what my kitchen looks like right now...

and the shelves are bare...

and the furniture is sparse and there is not a comfy couch to sit on in sight...

But it is all coming together and we are so happy with every bit of it. What do you think of the new doors? Don't they give the room a whole new feel?

Hopefully, I will have everything together and tons of pictures taken to post by next week. I am going to count on all of you to hold me to that. In the meantime, what do you think of everything so far?

simple fold-over pillows

In June when I was packing up to head to the beach, I continued to go back and forth as to whether or not I should actually haul my sewing machine (and serger - never one without the other!) all the way to California with me. Yes, definitely, I am sure I will have all sorts of time for sewing projects... No, I shouldn't go to the trouble of taking them, because I probably won't get around to actually making anything... Yes, I will. What am I going to be so busy with... Back and forth, until I finally convinced myself I absolutely needed to have them with me.

Well, with one week left before leaving the beach and no sewing projects to show for, I needed to make sure my decision was not in vain. So, I decided to throw together some cute, easy pillows (I promise, any of you could make these!). I had bought a big roll of turquoise fabric and decided turquoise pillows were just what the beach house needed. My camera was handy, so I snapped a few pictures as I went, so as to be able to give a little step-by-step of how to make your own cute pillows in your own favorite color of the moment. Its all about a little (nearly) instant gratification. Here we go...

Step 1: Decide on the size pillow you want and add 2 inches. Cut three same size squares in that size. I wanted 20 inch pillows, so I cut three 22 inch squares.

Step 2: Lay all three pieces on top of one another. Fold back the top two layers about 8 inches (play with this, depending on the size pillow you are making). You want them to overlap enough so that they won't be pulled apart by the pillow, but you also want to be able to fit your pillow inside. I serged the edges of the part that is folded back. If you don't have a serger, you can always just zigzag the edge with your sewing machine.

Step 3: If you start to get hungry and a little distracted, make yourself some eggs. A little protein and you can focus again... hopefully.

Step 4: (Is everybody with me on the fold-over portion of this? Good.) Ok, so now, instead of pinning just use some giant paper clips to attach all three pieces. A definite time-saver.

Step 5: Serge (or sew, or zigzag) all three pieces together. Since I was using my serger, I angled all the corners as I went.

Step 6: Flip your pillowcase inside out, put a pillow in, fluff and put on your patio (or couch, or bed...) to enjoy.

You can sit and relax with that pillow or, if you are like me, you get that itch to keep getting more things done once you see how rewarding that first project was. So, play around with how to make more pillows and how to embellish them a little differently each time...

And there you have it. Easy pillows and (nearly) instant gratification. Is it just me, or do you get that thrill when you make something with your own hands?

Let me know if anyone tries the pillows! I would love to see how yours turn out or which ways you choose to make them a little more your own!